Illuminating means for highways and sidewalks



Fell 19, 1935. J. B. sTRAUss ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR HIGHwA/YS AND SIDEWALKS Filed.l Oct. l0, 193.5 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

FIG. 2

INVENTOR Jemepk lws;

yBY

ATTORNEY Feb. 19, 1935. J. B. sTAuss 1,991,584

ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR HIGHWAYS AND SIDEWALKS Filed oct. 1o, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 2 iNVENTO 05cm D. 344m BY e k `Q`N `ATTORNEY .aicnted Feta. i9, i935 'i mpnnmnms mans non menus AND smnwams Joseph B.: Strauss, #San Francisco, Gah?.

Application ,neither laissa, sensi ne. crassa 3 malins.

This invention relates to improvements in illuminating nieans for highways, sidewalks and the like.- v i The principal object of the invention is to provide an indirect illuminating means for a' highway or sidewalk, which will be free of shadows and any possibility of glare.

A further object is to arrange reflectors on opposite sides of a highway to utilize light rays which would otherwise be lost.

A further object is to produce a device loi? this character wherein. the movement of vehicles or pedestrians over the illuminated surface will not cause objectionable shadows. y

Another object is to provide means for illuminating a reflecting surface placed upon the opposite side of the structure being illuminated from that of the source of illumination.

A still further object is to produce a structure which 'is ornamental', at the same time rigid and one wherein the illuminating means may be readily serviced'. 'l

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course oi the following "description,

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication and in which like numer-- als .are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a section of Ahighway and sidewalk, having my illuminating means -positioned thereon and illuminating the surface thereof,

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 1, showing the manner in which the rays of illumination extend across the highway surfaces,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4, t

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the Fig. 5 is a side elevation .of a rail post constructed in accordance with my invention, and

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Y y f In illuminating sidewalks, highways, bridges and the like, it has been common practice to in stall illuminating means upon high posts or brackets with vthe -result that the illuminated surface is often poorly lighted, and further this type of lighting destroys the vision of the user in that he` cannot readilysee any great distance y beyond a vertical line intersecting the source of long distance down the highway. This type ofof blinding rays.

(ci. 24o- 25) illumination `is hard to service, is subject to storms and, therefore, applicant has devised an illuminating means wherein the lights are placed so that the rays of illumination are` projected across the highway or sidewallk` surface in a plane substantially parallel with the surface and close thereto, thereby preventing any possibility Further applicants structure, through a system of reflectors, may also provide indirect illuminationat points higher up as for instance at a point adjacent the upper extremity of each handraii support.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals 5 and 6 designate the two sides of a highway, which is preferably divided by a marker strip 7, which strip has provided at intervals, illuminating boxes 8, such as are described in my co-pending application Serial Number 664,158. The numerals 9 and 11 designate the curbs upon opposite sides of the highway, along the edge of which is formed a reilecting surface .12. This reecting surface may be enameled 'plates/or similar wear resisting material. At 13 I have shown a sidewalk surface and at 14 a continuous fender striphaving ornamental spaced reilectors 16 and a reilecting strip 17, similar to the reflecting strips 12. Spaced at suitable intervals along the fender strip, are housings 18 having openings l5' adjacent the highway and having posts 19 secured thereto. The housing 18 supports a lamp structure consisting of a casing 21 having a window 22 in alignment with the hollow posts 19. Within this casing 21 is mounted a reector 23 in which is positioned a light source such as a bulb 24. This bulb isl mounted in a socket 26, adjustably carried upon the bottom of the casing 21. Through the medium of the adjustment screws 27 the bulb 24 may be focused in the reflector 23.

A glass 28 projects rays of illumination as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3, so -that they fall up on the road surface as indicated by the arrows of Figs. 1 and 2. ltwill'here be noted that these housings 18 are staggered on opposite sides of the road or on the sidewalk so that the rays of illumination from the opposite and adjacent lights will overlap so that there will be no dark areas. It will also be here noted that the rays of illumination from one side of the highway willcross and engage the reilecting strips 12 and 17 upon the opposite side of the highway, as well as the reflectors 16. Consequently should the lights on onel side of thevhighway be all extinguished, the opposite side oi!` the highway would still be visible due to the reflected light. The rays of illumination extending upwardly 4from the bulb 24 will engage a reflector 29, which is of such a shape that the rays 'of illumination of the posts, thus permitting him to watch the road immediately in front or to lift the eyes to a point considerably in advance, and still be light-consciousof the edge of the road.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be noted that I here illustrate a post for the hand-rail,

`as for instance the hand-rail of a bridge, the

construction being identical with that shown in Fig. 3, with the exception that the illuminating means is positioned in the upperl end of the post and as shown at 32 a reflector, positioned in the bottom of the post and corresponding to the re-v flector 29, directs the rays of illumination out upon the sidewalk. The direct rays of illumination from the-bulb 32 pass through openings in the upper end of the post and also serve to illuminate the sidewalk. The structure shown in v Figs. 5 and 6 is virtually the same as Fig. 3, with' the exception that the light is at the top and the reflector is at the bottom, thus reversing the position of the parts that perform the same functiton.

It isto be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the 'same` and that various changes relative to the material, size,.shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spiritof the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my i\r`1vention,Iclaim: 1. In a highway illuminating device, in combination a housing adapted to be positioned adjacent a highway surface, a casing positioned in said housing, a hollow post positionedvon said housing, a reflector carried in the upper portion" of said post, illuminating means mounted in said 1,991,584 l l casing and capable of illuminating'said reflector,

a portion of the rays from said illuminating means extending horizontally to said highway,

and a reflecting surface positioned on the opposite side of said highway, upon which said rays impinge. y

2. In combination with a highway having curbs on opposite sides thereof, of reflecting means mounted on said curbs, a fender 'strip formed on opposite sides of said highway and adjacent said curbs, illuminating means interposed at inter-I vals in said fender strips, the illuminating means on opposite sides of said vhighway being staggered with relation to each other, said illuminating means comprising a housing having an opening therein facing the curb upon the opposite side of the highwamahollow post positioned on said housing, said hollow post having windows.

formed therein, a reector mounted in said hollow post, and illuminating means mounted in said housing whereby rays of illumination therefrom will impinge on said reflector and will exsurface of said highway at a point substantially in parallelism with the surface of the highwayA and in close proximity thereto. l

3. In combination with a highway having curbs on opposite sides thereof, of reflecting means mounted on said curbs, a fender strip formed on opposite sides of'said highway and adjacent said curbs, illuminating means interposed at intervals in said fender strips, the illuminating means on opposite sides of said highway being staggered with relation to each other, said illuminating means comprising a housing having an opening therein facing the curb upon the opposite side of the highway, a hollow` post positioned on said housing, said hollow post having windows formed therein, a` reflector mounted in said hollow post,

illuminating means mounted "in saidhousing whereby rays of illumination therefrom will imvtend through said opening in said housing to the y pinge on said reflector and will'extend through said highway at a point substantially in paral-` lelism with the surface ofthe highway and in close proximity thereto, and a plurality 'of reflectors mounted on said fender whereby the fender line may, be readily determined through the reflection of headlightsof a vehicle travelling over said'highway.-

JosEPHnls'rRAU-ss. J

Asaid opening in said housing to the surface of* 

